Letting Agents Can Be Fined for Unlicensed Arun Properties
Property Licensing Guide for Arun
Arun currently operates additional licensing in 3 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 20 October 2026.
This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.
Arun is in the South East registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 March 2027: see what the PRS database means for landlords and agents in the South East.
Arun Property Licensing Schemes
To check whether an Arun property is licensed, contact the council’s HMO team on 01903 737755 or HMOLicensing@arun.gov.uk. You can also run an address through Kamma’s free checker below.
Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.
Not sure whether an Arun property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check an Arun property →What are the licensing requirements for Arun?
Mandatory licensing in Arun
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Arun (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:
- Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
- Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
- Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.
Do I need an additional property licence in Arun?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.
Arun operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Arun?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Arun does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme.
Additional licensing: 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2030, covering Hotham, Marine and River.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.
How do I apply for a licence?
You can apply for a licence via Arun Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees (2026-27): a mandatory HMO licence costs £1,942 for five people plus £50 for each extra occupant, then a £445 issue fee. An additional licence for a 3 to 4 person HMO costs £1,902 plus the £445 issue fee, £2,347 in total. Check the council’s fees and charges page for other building types.
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Arun Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Arun operate?
Arun operates additional licensing (1 February 2025 to 31 January 2030), alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. See the scheme details above.
Do all properties in Arun need a licence?
No. Arun has no selective licensing scheme. A licence is needed for HMOs: mandatory licensing applies across Arun to HMOs with five or more people, and additional licensing applies in Hotham, Marine and River wards to smaller HMOs with three or four people.What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a property that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for property licences on behalf of landlords in Arun, and many manage the full process.
How do I apply for an Arun HMO licence?
Apply through the Arun District Council online portal: register an account, choose Licensing, then Apply for a licence, then HMO licence, and pay by card (additional HMO licence application guide). Kamma can also prepare and submit the application for a letting agent.
How long does an HMO licence last in Arun?
An Arun HMO licence is valid for up to 5 years from issue. The council issues shorter licences of 1 to 4 years where a property operated unlicensed for 3 months or more after becoming licensable (arun.gov.uk).
Why did Arun introduce additional licensing?
Arun District Council introduced additional HMO licensing for River, Hotham and Marine wards from 1 February 2025. The council says rented properties there show higher disrepair, lower maintenance and poorer management, and it aims to improve them.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Arun?
Arun’s mandatory and additional HMO licence conditions cover gas and electrical safety, fire alarms, tenancy agreements, refuse and litter, repair and condition, and anti-social behaviour (licence conditions).
About Arun
Arun District Council introduced additional HMO licensing in River ward in Littlehampton and in Hotham and Marine wards in Bognor Regis. The council says data shows higher disrepair and poorer management in rented properties in these wards. Applications opened on 17 December 2024 and the scheme began on 1 February 2025.
Licensing Enforcement in Arun
Arun Council enforces HMO licensing. In May 2025 it reported that Crawley Magistrates’ Court had fined a Bognor Regis landlord for running an unlicensed HMO at Linden Road. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.
